When It’s Time to Put Your Miniature Painting Project on Hold, Forever

Have you thought about quitting? Anything? Well, when it comes to the hobby of miniatures, there are some projects that can cause frustration and make you want to throw in the towel. New things bring excitement, of discovery, and there’s a lot to be said about feeling the need for change. The miniature painting hobby is a metaphor for life, and just like in life, there are times when you may feel overwhelmed or stuck.

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In this article, I want to discuss a topic that is dear to my heart and tends to overwhelm me on my days off. The idea of quitting or just putting away (indefinitely) a project I’ve worked so hard on is a hard decision. I’ve had to do this a few times and it is never easy.

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I’ve thought a lot about quitting a job and moving on to something new. Here, I’m wrapping up my thoughts as a way to consolidate my thinking process. Maybe it’ll help you, too?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Change or Shelve: If your vision doesn’t pan out, swiftly alter or pause the project. Adaptation is key.
Break Down or Step Away: Tackle overwhelming projects by dividing or pausing them. Keep your hobby enjoyable, not burdensome.
Evaluate and Act: Regularly assess your investment against enjoyment. Decisively shift gears if necessary for optimal satisfaction.

To simply how I approach this decision-making process, I’ve create a five questions you could ask yourself that may help you decide whether it’s right time to quit, pause, or continue on your journey. See below!

Quitting is necessary to survive

You have finite energy. You can only spend it on so many things before you diminish yourself. Going into reserves, that red zone, is a place I know I’ve been before. Burnout, do you know it?

Sometimes, learning to recalibrate yourself, the way you expend your life on things is a crucial step towards achieving success.

As an artist, I understand the emotional and creative investment we put into each project. It’s a personal journey, filled with intricate daydreams, a rollercoaster of good and bad ideas, and enduring painstaking effort. It’s who I am, putting this effort in. But sometimes, I’ve realized that deciding to indefinitely pause a project, to quit, is as important as starting one.

1. When Your Vision Doesn’t Take Shape

In our journey as miniature painters, the initial vision we have for a project is the guiding star. But what happens when that vision starts to blur or never quite takes shape on the model? This is a common challenge, and it’s often a mix of factors – maybe the colors aren’t working as anticipated, or the details are more intricate than initially thought. If you find yourself repeatedly painting and repainting, it might indicate that your vision and current execution aren’t aligning.

This isn’t just about skill; sometimes, our imagination sets a bar that’s a bit too high for the current project. When this happens, it’s important for you to step back and reassess. It’s not admitting defeat; it’s about recognizing that your creative journey might need a new direction.

Maybe it’s tweaking the concept, simplifying the design, or even shelving it for a future time when your skills have caught up to your imagination. In fact, quitting a project saves you energy that you may best invest elsewhere.

2. Feeling Overwhelmed by the Scale

Miniature painting, in its essence, is about detail, precision, and patience. However, the scale of some projects can become overwhelming, especially when working on large sets or particularly complex pieces.

And perhaps you’re in job or career that just doesn’t fit who you are, or what you’d like to do with your time.

This is a point where your passion (your ability to stay motivated) can turn into a daunting task. You might find yourself losing hours on tiny details, feeling like the project or effort is never-ending. The mission has become lost or muddled.

It’s crucial to recognize when the scale of a project starts to affect your mental well-being or encroaches on other important aspects of your life. Balancing your hobby with other responsibilities is key.

It might be beneficial for you to set a project or even a career aspiration aside temporarily and focus on more immediately rewarding pursuits. This doesn’t mean you’re giving up; you’re simply taking a strategic pause, ensuring that your hobby (your passion) remain a source of relaxation and enjoyment.

3. Balancing Resource Investment

Investing in a miniature painting project isn’t just about the physical resources like paints and brushes; it’s also about the investment of time and energy. We often start projects with enthusiasm, but as they progress, they might demand more resources than initially anticipated. This could be in the form of additional materials, unexpected time commitments, or even the emotional energy required to push through challenging phases.

It’s essential to periodically evaluate whether the ongoing investment is proportional to the enjoyment and satisfaction you’re receiving. Are you finding yourself spending too much on rare paints or specialized tools? Is the project taking up time that you’d rather spend on other fulfilling activities or obligations? Remember, your resources are finite, and it’s important to allocate them in a way that brings balance to your life and joy to your hobby (or your job).

4. Embracing the Learning Curve (Growth Mindset)

Every brushstroke in miniature painting is a step in your learning journey. It’s not just about completing a project but also about what you learn along the way. When you encounter a project that doesn’t go as planned, it’s an opportunity to reflect on what could be done differently next time.

Maybe it’s a new painting technique that needs more practice, or perhaps it’s a realization that certain styles or themes suit you better. Sometimes, you might find that the project has taught you all it can, and any further work feels redundant.

When you decide to put a project on hold, take a moment to appreciate the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from it, and carry those forward into your future projects.

5. Prioritizing Your Enjoyment

The heart of miniature painting lies in the joy and satisfaction it brings. It’s a hobby that allows for creative expression and can be a wonderful escape from the everyday.

However, if you find that a project is no longer bringing you pleasure, it’s important to consider why. Has the project become monotonous or frustrating? Are you feeling pressured to complete it for reasons other than your own enjoyment?

It’s essential to regularly check in with yourself and ensure that your hobby remains a positive and fulfilling part of your life. If a project stops being fun, or a job becomes toxic to your mental health, it’s okay to set it aside and explore something new.

Maybe it’s experimenting with a different genre, tackling a smaller project, or even taking a break from painting altogether.

5 HELPFUL Steps to DECIDE WHETHER TO QUIT

Here are 5 steps to help you decide whether it’s time to quit and move on. It’s not easy, but I hope this serves as a useful guide in whatever scenario you’re in.

Step	Question	Action
1	Does Your Vision Align with the Current Project?	If the project doesn’t align with your initial vision or repeatedly requires correction, consider revising the concept or shelving it for later.
2	Are You Feeling Overwhelmed by the Project’s Scale?	If the project feels too large or time-consuming, break it down into smaller parts or pause it to focus on less daunting tasks.
3	Is the Resource Investment Proportional to Enjoyment?	Evaluate if the time, effort, and materials spent are worth the satisfaction gained. If not, reallocate your resources or pause the project.
4	Are You Learning and Evolving Through This Project?	If the project is no longer contributing to your growth or feels redundant, take a break and apply your learnings to future projects.
5	Is the Project Still Bringing You Joy?	If the project stops being enjoyable and feels more like a chore, consider setting it aside to explore new, more exciting ventures.

Conclusion

The art of miniature painting, much like life itself, is a journey of self-discovery and continuous adaptation. Deciding to pause or quit a project is not a sign of defeat; rather, it is a testament to your growth and self-awareness as an artist and individual. Each project, whether completed or indefinitely paused, contributes uniquely to your collective experiences, teaching invaluable lessons about creativity, resilience, and personal fulfillment.

I’ve learned a lot about myself along the way. In the hobby or career, it doesn’t matter; there are hard decisions that often feel like one-way streets. And, often they are. But, the things you carry with you, the experiences and relationships you’ve built will always be with you.

I think it’s that Wisdom, the ability to endure (i.e., grit), is the character that we should all strive for. Sometimes we make decisions and we have no control over the outcome. We may try our best, but ultimately, the result is beyond our control. It’s in these moments that wisdom comes into play.

I know I’m leaving this a bit open ended. What I’ve written is more of a guide, as there’s no formula for making the “right” choice of whether to continue on the path you’re on or divert to the off ramp. But as I continue typing, I find myself wondering if that’s the best approach.

Maybe I should be more direct and tell you what to do. But then again, maybe not. Because ultimately, the decision is yours to make.

I hope you found this article helpful. I’m fairly sure it’s going to be one that I continue to revisit and update as I learn more about myself and hear more from you guys about this topic.

Until then, don’t quit thinking!